After battle with neighbors, tech exec agrees not to tear down historic Portland home

Kevin Rose, co-founder of Digg.com and an executive at Google Ventures, along with his wife, Darya Pino Rose, have signaled surrender after a drawn-out battle with the people of Portland, Ore., over plans to tear down a historic, 122-year-old home, the Oregonian reports.

Normally, neighborhood spats aren't items of national interest. However, the Rose case has struck a chord, especially with residents in the state's largest city, who protested Rose's plan to replace the home with a new design.

Rose confirmed the news via Twitter.

for those of you following our house drama, we decided the best outcome is to preserve the house. http://t.co/PgPKc7roxI

Rose and his wife will instead sell the Willamette Heights home for $1.375 million (slightly more than what they paid in March) to neighbors who plan to keep it as is. The decision came at the 11th hour as demolition crews were reportedly on the doorstep ready to begin work.

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Kevin Rose (GV.com)

In a statement, the couple explained their decision: “We love so much about your beautiful city, and your strong community bond is high up on that list. While we could have legally put our heads down and proceeded forward, that’s not the type of relationship we want with our neighbors and our new city friends."

Will Aitchison, a spokesperson for the residents who opposed the plan to tear down the home, told NBC News that a deal may be finalized by the end of the week.

The housing hubbub isn't the first time Rose has found himself the target of protests. While living in San Francisco, a group of protesters marched outside his home, upset over the city's perceived techification and rising home and rental prices.